the last lesson is a satire on the colonial mindset. Elucidate.
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Linguistic nationalism, that is a patriotic fervour for the nation based on the common thread of language which separates them from the colonizers, is a common feature of a colonial mindset. It is the first thing which brings disparate communities together and forges the stepping stone towards nationhood. In the story, as Alsace faces German rule and the possible obliteration of its French identity and language, Hamel evokes that very French language to bring them together.
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The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine came under the regime of Prussia (Germany) after getting defeated by them. As the new administrative control, it was declared that the use of French would be minimized and the use of German would be mandatory. The order came from Berlin to teach only German in the schools.
Language is one of the ways to colonize the areas and to expand the region. The Germans took the step of forcing German on the French people so as to colonize the districts. They made German mandatory and ordered the schools to stop teaching French. At the same time, Franz's line that "will they make them sing in German even the pigeon?" This line is symbolic as it implies that the use of any language can only be forced upon humans and not on birds or animals. Thus, slavery can only be limited to people and not on nature.